PRODUCT DESIGN

PROCESS

HIGH-VIS STREET CYCLING SHOE

Cycling accidents happen more at night (when visibility is reduced) than at any other time of day. And while cyclists don’t always obey traffic laws, drivers don’t always give cyclists full road privelages. According to recent statistics, the average age of cyclists killed in traffic crashes is 31; the average age of those injured is 23. This shoe is designed to satisfy the needs of this urban commuter demographic

MOVEMENT DEFINES FORM

With Messenger, quickly-drawn speed lines were used to generate form during the ideation stage. You can see in the final design direction that many of these swooping lines were maintained, defining the feel of the shoe. The signature Adidas stripes were cleverly integrated into the side of the shoe.

COLOR STUDIES

Messenger is intended to deliver the wearer home safely in low-visibility conditions, so safety and protection were the main focus for this project. The user wants the features of a pro cycling shoe, but needs to be able to dismount easily and even walk short distances, so a recessed cleat with a rigid sole was essential. Treading on the shoe helps to channel water to prevent slipping in wet condistions.

MODELMAKING

In order to achieve the detail on the sole and uppers, carving tools were created using wooden dowels of varying size affixed with staggered grades of sandpaper.

The model was then primered in several thick layers using one full can of quick-drying Bondo rattlecan primer with each go. The tongue, strap, rear “bumpers”, cleat, sole and uppers were all created as separate pieces to achieve a realistic set of parting lines. Once painted and dried, all of the pieces were assembled into the final model.

The Adidas Messenger shoe model was started from a single block of yellow foam, and orthographics created in Photoshop were used as a design template. Before sculpting the foam block, it was separated into a top (upper shoe) and bottom (sole). Next, a permanent parting line was created by spray-painting the exposed faces, and then reconnecting the halves using Super 77 Spray Mount. At this point, the orthographics were temporarily spray-mounted to the foam in order to roughly cut the shape out on a bansaw.

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John Whaley is a product designer with a BFA in Industrial Design and a background in Graphic Design. His design interests center around housewares, sporting goods, furniture, fashion and electronics.

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